Automatic time-unlocked cigaret case

ABSTRACT

A timer-controlled cigaret case which is automatically unlocked after the lapse of a preset period of time, in which a push rod provided on the inner surface of the cover is adapted to press down turning arms pivotally supported inside the case body, thereby winding a flat spiral spring of a timer and starting the timer and bringing a locking pawl formed at the front end of a leaf spring into engagement with a locking groove of a projection from the cover so as to accomplish locking, said leaf spring being adapted to be pressed by a side surface of a criterion cam which is rotatably and slidably fitted to the shaft of a second wheel of the timer, and a pin provided on the shaft of the second wheel is adapted to fit in a notch formed in the criterion cam to cause axial sliding of the cam so as to release the pressure of the leaf spring and allow the locking pawl to move out of the groove to accomplish unlocking, said criterion cam being rotatable as desired to shift the position of the notch for the purpose of timing control.

United States Patent Ishijima [54] AUTOMATIC T IME-UNLOCKED CIGARET CASEYoshihiro lshijima, Osaka, Japan [73] Assignee: Sogawa Machineries 8:Supplies, Osaka,

Japan [22] Filed: Feb. 16, 1971 [2|] Appl.N0.: 115,624

[72] inventor:

Primary E.\'aminer-Albert G. Craig, Jr.

' Attorney-Ernest A. Greenside [5 7] ABSTRACT A timer-controlled cigaretcase which is automatically unlocked after the lapse of a preset periodof time, in which a push rod provided on the inner surface of the coveris adapted to press down turning arms pivotally supported inside thecase body, thereby winding a flat spiral spring of a timer and startingthe timer and bringing a locking pawl formed at the front end of a leafspring into engagement with a locking groove of a projection from thecover so as to accomplish locking, said leaf spring being adapted to bepressed by a side surface of a criterion cam which is rotatably andslidably fitted to the shaft of a second wheel of the timer, and apinprovided on the shaft of the second wheel is adapted to fit in anotch formed in the criterion cam to cause axial sliding of the cam soas to release the pressure of the leaf spring and allow the locking pawlto move out of the groove to accomplish unlocking, said criterion cambeing rotatable as desired to shift the position of the notch for thepurpose of timing control.

1 Claim, 24 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAY 9I972 3.660898 sum 2 BF 5PATENTEDHAY 91972 8,660,998

sum 5 [1F 5 AUTOMATIC TIME-UNLOCKED CIGARET CASE SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION made by hand each time the case is opened. Thus, the smokersoften forget the procedure and make the cigaret savers unable to work assuch.

The present invention provides an automatic time-unlocked cigaret casewhich automatically follows the above procedure upon closing of the casecover, thereby eliminating the foregoing disadvantages, and which issimple to handle and is capable of achieving a positivesmoking-restricting efiect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partly broken perspectiveview of a cigaret case embodying the invention, as opened;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the main mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing both of turning arms in engagement with atrain of wheels;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing the both turning arms inengagement;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are a plan view and a side view, respectively, of a mainturning arm;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are a plan view and a side view, respectively, of anauxiliary turning arm;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are front views showing the auxiliary turning arm indifferent operating positions;

FIGS. 10(1) to (5) are side views explanatory of the sequence of motionsin which the front ends of the main and auxiliary turning arms are resetto the original state;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged side view of a timing control mechanism;

FIGS. 12A and 12B are exploded views, respectively, of the front andrear sides of the timing control mechanism;

FIGS. 13A and 13B are a plan view and a side view, respectively, of atiming control disk;

FIGS. 14A and 14B are a front view and a side view, respectively, of acriterion cam;

FIG. 15 is a front view explanatory of the operation of the timingcontrol mechanism;

FIG. 16 is an exploded view of a third wheel;

FIG. 17 is a side view of the third wheel as assembled; and

FIG. 18 is a partly sectional side view explanatory of the lockingfunction.

As shown, a case body 1 has a cover 3 which is openable attached to thebody by means of hinges 2. On the inner surface of the cover 3, there isheld a push rod 6 parallelly to a side wall of the cover. On the sameside of the cover is fixedly provided a triangular protuberance having alocking groove 5 under an inclined plane 4. Inside the case body 1 isprovided a mechanical compartment 7. The compartment is defined on bothsides by a pair of non-magnetic bearing plates 8, 9, in which a shaft 10is journaled. At one end of the shaft I0 is fixed an auxiliary turningarm 12 of iron with a pin 11. A coil spring 34 secured at one end to theshaft 10 is restricted at the other end by a connecting bolt 55, so thatthe auxiliary turning arm 12 is urged anti-clockwise until it is stoppedby a projection 50. On another shaft 15 is securely mounted a sectorwheel 17, and to one end of the shaft 15 is fixed one end of a mainturning arm 14 in such a manner that the front end portion of the arm 14is overlaped with that of the auxiliary tuming arm 12. The both frontend portions are finished to be triangular in section. A permanentmagnet 35 is fixed to the inner surface of the bearing plate 9 oppositeto the overlapped arm portions.

On a shaft 20 are integrally secured a gear 21 and a pinion 19, and alsothe inner end of a flat spiral spring 22 is fixed. As a second wheel 18,the pinion I9 is in mesh with the sector wheel 17. Then, as shown inFIG. 5, a third wheel 24, a fourth wheel 30, an escape wheel 31, anankle 32, and a balance wheel are engaged with one another, As bettershown in FIGS. 16 and 17, prises a pinion 26 formed integrally piece 29,a spring washer 27 and a gear 28 both mounted between the shaft and endpiece rotatably with respect to the shaft 25, the pinion 26 and gear 28being adapted to engage with each other by dint of the frictionalresistance of the spring washer 27.

The second wheel 18 comprises, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a gear 21, apinion 19 formed integrally with a shaft 20, and a flat spiral spring 22anchored at the inner end to the shaft 20 and fixed at the outer end toa bolt 23. A pin 36 is secured to the shafi 20 at right angles thereto,and a hollow cylindrical part 39 contiguous to a cylindrical criterioncam 37 formed with a notch 38 is fitted on the shaft 20 in such a waythat it can slide slong, and revolve around, the axis of the shaft. Aspring washer 45 is loosely fitted on the portion of the hollowcylindrical part 39 which has passed through the bearing plate 9 and isexposed beyond that plate so that the washer can slide axially andvrevolve about the cylindrical part. Further, on the spring washer 45 isfitted a timing control disk 46. A projection 40 on the hollowcylindrical part 39-is provided in the same direction as the notch 38 ofthe criterion cam 37 with respect to the common axis, and are bothfitted in a groove 47 of an axial center hole of the timing control disk46, with the consequence that the disk 46 is slidable with respect tothe criterion cam 37 and is adapted to rotate therewith. 0n the outersurface of the timing control disk 46 is provided a dial 48 whichindicates how much time is left before the case is reopened. To thefront end of the shaft 20 which protrudes beyond the disk, a pointer 51is secured at the root. The end periphery 49 of the timing control disk46 is kept parallelly in contact with the inner surface of the case body1 and is pressed securely against the surface under the urgings of aspring washer 45. i

A leaf spring 41 anchored at one end to the bearing plate 9 is locatedbetween the criterion cam 37 and the bearing plate 9 and urges the cam37 at all times in the right upward direction (as viewed in FIG. 128)against the pin 36 on the shaft 20. The free end of the leaf spring 42is bent at a right angle to form a locking pawl 43, which protrudesoutwardly of the bearing plate 9. The timing control disk 46 is providedwith a rib 53 on its periphery, which engages with a projection 54 onthe bearing plate 9 to restrict the rotation of the disk 46.

The operation of the mechanism incorporated in the case of the inventionwill now be described. As the cover 3 is closed, the push rod 6 on theinner surface of the cover descends until its front end comes intocontact with the upper surface of the auxiliary turning arm 12associated with the case body 1 and presses it further downward, so thatthe arm 12 turns clockwise pivotally about the shaft 10. As a result,the front end portion of the arm 12 depresses the corresponding portionof the main turning arm 14, so that the arm 14 turns anticlockwise aboutthe shaft 15 (as shown in FIGS. 9A and 98), thus causing the sectorwheel 17 secured to the shaft 15 to wind the flat spiral spring 22 viathe second wheel 18. 0f the train of gears, the gear 28 of the thirdwheel 24 and subsequent gears are stopped at this time by the ankle 32,while the pinion 26 of the third wheel rotates in sliding contact withone side of the gear 28.

Immediately before the cover is closed down, as shown in FIG. 9A, thefront ends of the both turning arms 12, 14 form a certain angle withrespect to each other, and then go out of engagement, when the flatspiral spring 22 becomes reversible in action. This shifting inarrangement is so quickly accomin the order mentioned. the third wheel24 comwith a shaft 24, an end plished that the spiral spring almostinstantaneously repulses the plays in engagement of the individual gearsconstituting the wheel train and gives a sufficient impact to thebalance wheel 33 via the ankle 32 to get it start positively.

Meanwhile, as the case body 1 is closed with the cover 3, the inclinedplane 4 of the locking groove 5 comes into contact with the tip of thelocking pawl 43 at the front end of the leaf spring 42. With furtherdescent of the inclined plane 4, the locking pawl 43 is forced backagainst the urgings of the leaf spring 42 until it is forced into thelocking groove 5 upon complete closing of the case with the cover 3. Inthis manner the case is locked up. Since the periphery of the criterioncam 37 excepting the notch 38 is in contact with the pin 36 on the shaft20 thereby pressing the leaf spring 42, the cover will not be releasedopen before a predetermined period of time elapses.

Once the timer has started, the main turning arm 14 gradually turnsclockwise as the flat spiral spring 22 runs down, while the auxiliaryturning arm 12 alone is kept depressed by the push rod 6 of the cover.Accordingly, when the predetermined period has been elapsed and thecover is turned open, the front end portions of the both turning arms12, 14 are conversely overlapped, i.e., the auxiliary turning arm 12 islocated below the main turning arm 14. When the cover has beencompletely turned open and the depression by the push rod 6 has beenremoved, the auxiliary turning arm 12 is turned clockwise by virtue ofthe spring 34 and, in the sequence illustrated in FIGS. (1) to (S), thefront end portion of the arm continues to go up with its inclined plane13 in contact with the front end portion of the main turning arm 14. Theauxiliary turning arm slightly turns about the pin 11, and the inclinedplane 13 slides up along the inclined plane 16, bypassing the latterleftwise, until it is stopped by the projection 50. Then, attracted bythe magnet 35, the auxiliary tuming arm 12 is brought back to theoriginal position immediately above the main turning arm 14, so that thefront end portions of the both arms are disposed as shown in FIGS. 5 and6, wherein the front end portion of the auxiliary turning arm 12 restson that of the main arm 14, ready to start the next locking motion uponcovering of the case.

Simultaneously with the starting of the timer, the second wheel 18begins turning anti-clockwise. Accordingly, the pin 36 fixed to theshaft 20 for the second wheel 18 turns in contact with the contour ofthe criterion cam 37. When the pin 36 has fitted in the notch 38, thecam 37 is caused to slide along the shaft by the elasticity of the leafspring 42, whereby the locking pawl 43 is urged inwardly of the bearingplate 9 out of the locking groove 5 and the case is thus unlocked. Thecover is now free to be turned open. The pin 36 is kept unmovably by thevertical wall of the notch 38 of the criterion cam 37.

In order to control the limit time, or the period of time from theclosing of the cover and locking till unlocking after the lapse of apredetermined length of time, it is necessary to turn the timing controldisk 46 so that a desired point of time on the time dial 48 on itssurface is set to the pointer 51. The mechanism for this timing and itsoperation will now be explained. The moment when the both turning arms12, 14 are turned by the push rod 6 upon closing of the cover 3 andtheir front end portions are about to be disengaged, or the moment whenthe timer begins to work, the angle which the main turning arm 12 makeswith the reference line Y-Y' (FIG. 9A) is constant. Hence the angle ofthe pin 36 fixed to the shaft 20 of the second wheel 18 to the referenceline y-y' (FIGS. 13 and is also constant. In such a manner that thisangle is kept at zero the pin 36 is secured to the shaft 20. It meansthat the pin 36 is on the reference line y-y' at the moment when thetimer is started and, with the lapse of time, it turns at a constantspeed. If, therefore, the timing control disk 46 is turned a desiredangle with the cover kept open, the criterion cam 37 turns, too. Sincethe angle 0 of the recess 38 with respect to the reference line y-y' isaccordingly shifted, the timing can be controlled. The dial on thetiming control disk 46 indicates the lenxgthpf time to be elapsed beforethe case is reopened, in the fol owing way. in the state where theprojection 40 of the criterion cam fits in the groove 47 of the shafthole, the time required for the revolution of the pin 36 on the basis ofthe recess 38 position of the cam is indicated at the point of acorresponding angle. FIG. 13 shows an example wherein controllabletiming range is between 0 and 60 minutes. Only if the timing controldisk 46 is turned until the desired time on the time dial 48 comes to asetting point, the criterion cam 37 will revolve, too, and the angle ofits recess 38 to the reference line will correspond to the desired time.With this setting the cover is closed down, when the pointer 51 fixed tothe front end of the shaft 20 for the second wheel 18 at the same angleas the pin 36 rotates with the pin 36 to indicate how much time is leftto be elapsed. At the zero point the pin 36 fits in the notch 38 of thecriterion cam and thereby unlocks the case.

The time dial 48 that indicates the length of time to be elapsed and thepointer 51 are both visible through a peep window 52 formed in the frontpanel of the case body. The timing control disk 46 is securely pressedagainst the inner wall surface of the case body 1 under the urgings ofthe spring washer 45, and therefore it remains steadily in the adjustedposition and is not in the least turned by vibration or shock.Accordingly, the preset time is positively kept and the length of timefor which the case is to be kept locked is never made irregular as bythe loosening of the hinges connecting the case body and the cover. Oncethe case is set to a desired time, there is no longer the need of manualcontrol; the timer will automatically work each time the cover is openedand closed.

While the present invention has been described as applied to a cigaretcase, it is applicable to containers of other articles as well withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A timer-controlled cigaret case which is automatically unlocked afterthe lapse of a preset period of time, comprising a case body having acover, a push rod provided on the inner surface of the cover, turningarms pivotally supported inside the case body and which are adapted tobe turned by the push rod, a timer having a flat spiral spring which iswound and started as the turning arms are turned down, a projectionformed in the interior of the cover and which has a groove for lockinguse, a leaf spring having a locking pawl at the front end which isadapted to fit in said groove to accomplish locking, a criterion camrotatably and slidably fitted to the shaft of a second wheel of thetimer and which presses said leaf spring on one side, and a pin providedon the shaft of the second wheel and which is adapted to fit in a notchformed in the criterion cam to cause axial sliding of the criterion camso as to release the pressure of the leaf spring and allow the lockingpawl to move out of the groove to accomplish unlocking, said criterioncam being rotatable as desired to shift the position of the notch forthe purpose of timing control.

1 I t i i

1. A tiMer-controlled cigaret case which is automatically unlocked afterthe lapse of a preset period of time, comprising a case body having acover, a push rod provided on the inner surface of the cover, turningarms pivotally supported inside the case body and which are adapted tobe turned by the push rod, a timer having a flat spiral spring which iswound and started as the turning arms are turned down, a projectionformed in the interior of the cover and which has a groove for lockinguse, a leaf spring having a locking pawl at the front end which isadapted to fit in said groove to accomplish locking, a criterion camrotatably and slidably fitted to the shaft of a second wheel of thetimer and which presses said leaf spring on one side, and a pin providedon the shaft of the second wheel and which is adapted to fit in a notchformed in the criterion cam to cause axial sliding of the criterion camso as to release the pressure of the leaf spring and allow the lockingpawl to move out of the groove to accomplish unlocking, said criterioncam being rotatable as desired to shift the position of the notch forthe purpose of timing control.